Extreme Rules preview
Predictions for Sunday night’s WWE pay-per-view:
WWE champion Randy Orton vs. Batista in a Steel Cage Match: Orton will find a way to retain the title. This could be the night Triple H returns and gets involved in the finish.
World heavyweight champion Edge vs. Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match: Hardy set the bar high when he pretty much promised on Smackdown that this match would be a classic. The way the story line has played out makes it appear that there is a good chance of Hardy winning the title, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. For one thing, Hardy reportedly has still not agreed with WWE on a new contract, so it would be risky for the company to put the belt on a guy who may be gone in a couple months. Plus, Edge has had too many short title reigns and the time is right for him to hold the championship for a while. Regardless of the outcome, this is almost certain to be the best match on the card.
John Cena vs. The Big Show in a Submission Match: The focus during the buildup to this match has been on how Big Show is too large for Cena to get the STF on. Once again, Cena will find a way and come out victorious.
Intercontinental champion Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho in a No Holds Barred Match: If not for the Ladder Match being on the card, this one would probably be the show-stealer. I think Jericho wins the title and forces Mysterio to put his mask on the line to get a rematch (which is exactly what I thought would happen when these two wrestled last month at Judgment Day).
CM Punk vs. Umaga in a Samoan Strap Match: This one could go either way. I think Punk overcomes the odds and gets the victory.
ECW champion Christian vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Jack Swagger in a Hardcore Match: It wouldn’t surprise me if Dreamer, the sentimental favorite (to some), wins the title, but I think the belt is going back to Swagger. Winning the title and forcing Dreamer to retire would increase Swagger’s heel heat.
U.S. champion Kofi Kingston vs. Matt Hardy vs. MVP vs. William Regal: I don’t see MVP getting the belt back or Regal winning, but I suppose there is a chance that Hardy could go over. Kingston has some momentum, though, so I think he’ll retain the title.
Vickie Guerrero vs. Santina Marella in a Hog Pen Match: This should be pretty funny. I have to go with “Ms.” Marella, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Chavo Guerrero ended up in the slop with his aunt.
Comments
With the Big Show/Cena match, I could see them re-using the finish from the Cena/Umaga "I Quit" match from the 2007 Royal Rumble - Cena took the ring ropes apart and put Umaga in the STF while wrapping the rope around his neck.
re: the Jericho/Mysterio feud, there's only one way this should end - Mask vs. Hair at SummerSlam. If he is willing to go through with it, a bald Jericho would be hilarious!
Posted by: Chris Slater | June 7, 2009 5:11 AM
I'm looking forward to this whole card, but especially the Hardy-Edge match. I would be happy if either man won clean (Edge needs that) or, if Matt comes out to interfere, someone (Christian, maybe) come to Jeff's aid. I'm expecting a Match of the Year candidate, though.
When did the US Title match get announced?
Posted by: Dustin | June 7, 2009 10:22 AM
Christian and Swagger work so well together that it is almost a shame that Dreamer has to be added to the equation. I won't be surprised if Tommy wins tonight. Stupid triple-threat matches are always a great way to get someone into the top spot through the back door.
Posted by: Christopher | June 7, 2009 1:51 PM
I think dreamer will become ECW GM.
Posted by: Andy | June 7, 2009 2:49 PM
Santina
Kofi
Swag
CM Punk
Y2J
Show
Edge
Randy
Posted by: Amos | June 7, 2009 4:30 PM
Jerry Brisco: "When you hear that a steel cage match is coming to your town, you know someone's going to get busted open."
Probably not tonight though.
Posted by: Bradley | June 7, 2009 8:02 PM
This show is going to barely get 100,000 buys. It was a terribly arrogant decision by the WWE to schedule a PPV the same night as a huge WEC show and Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Posted by: Elevation | June 7, 2009 11:35 PM
I should have written in earlier in the week. I had a feeling that if Punk were able to disable Umaga a bit early in the night, he will have time to recover enough to take out whoever wins the ladder match -- either Edge or Hardy would be vulnerable and there would be no Umaga to interfere.
The way the Cena-Big Show story was going, I did think think Cena was going to unveil a new submission hold though.
Posted by: Bob Buscaglia | June 8, 2009 12:43 AM